Meat carriage drive for slicing machines



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J. FOLK MEAT CARRIAGE DRIVE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed NOV. 17, 1943 Nov. 25, 1947.

J. FOLK MEAT CARRIAGE DRIVE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Nov. 17, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 25, 1947. .J. FOLK MEAT CARRIAGE DRIVE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Nov. 17, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @0612 I Jsepf J. FOLK Nov. 25, 1947.

MEAT CARRIAGE DRIVE FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Nov. 17, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mL i v V f @02 5;- v Jase 072 ZOY/b Mm QNN w ANN 5 Patented Nov. 25, 1947 MEAT CARRIAGE DRIVE FOR SLICING MACHIN Joseph Folk, La Porte, Ind., assignor to U. S.

Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 17, 1943, Serial No. 510,574

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to slicing machines for food substances and the like of the type wherein both the knife and the carriage for carrying the food substance may be power driven and wherein the power drive to the carriage may be engaged or disengaged selectively at the will of the operator. Specifically, this invention relates to slicing machines of the character described wherein the length of the power driven stroke of the carriage may be varied at the will of the operator, whereby food articles having a small cross sectional area may be sliced at a greater speed than food substances having a large cross sectional area.

One of the objects of the invention is to. provide a slicing machine of the character described wherein the carriage for supporting the food article may be engaged for power drive to cut one additional slice only of the food article and thereupon automatically be disconnected.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine of the type described wherein new and improved mechanism is utilized to translate rotary motion for rotating the slicing wheel to linear motion for reciprocating the carriage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a, slicing machine of the type described wherein new and improved mechanism is utilized to vary the length of stroke of the carriage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slicing machine of the character described wherein the operating mechanism is extremely compactly arranged to permit an easy streamlining of the housing of the slicing machine to render the same more sanitary and more pleasing to the eye than is the case of slicing machines which have been manufactured heretofore.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of a device incorporating the features of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view with some of the parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken through the right hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2 with some of the parts broken away for the sake of clearness, and shows a part of the drive mechanism of the illustrated device;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and shows another part of the drive mechanism of the illustrated device;

.upon a base l0 (Fig. l).

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on the line 55 of Figs. 2 and 6;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figs. 1 and 5;

Fig. '7 is a partial detail sectional view on the line 'l-l of Fig. 2 with some of the parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 8 is another partial detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2 with other parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 10 is a'detail sectional view on the line Illl0 of Fig. '7.

The particular device herein disclosed forthe purpose of illustrating the invention is mounted The base [0 is preferably strongly made of light metal stampings with rounded corners and is suitably streamlined to provide a housing for most of the operating parts of the slicing machine. The stampings should be so designed that portions may be readily removable to obtain access to the working parts of the machine, and that the connecting joints may be flush so as to keep the slicing machine sanitary. The entire base I0 is supported upon a plurality of rubber mounting feet H (Fig. 2), which are secured within mounting ferrules l2 preferably made integral with the stampings of the base l0. At the rear central portion of the slicing machine the stampings forming the casing are configured to form a raised knife supporting section l3 which provides both a partial housing and a support for a circular slicing knife M. A suitable knife guard 15 is demountably secured to the knife supporting section I3 and completely houses all of the slicing knife l4 with the exception of the forward portion of its cutting edge. Adjacent to and slightly to the left of the knife supporting section l3 the metal stampings of the base ID are so shaped that they form a generally cylindrical and form-fitting housing It for the drive motor ll of the slicing machine. A stiffening bracket l8 extends across the lower portion of the chamber within the motor housing l6 and aids in keeping the base If! rigid, while at the same time serving as a support for some of the operating parts of the slicing machine. Forward of the motor housing IS the metal stampings of the base ID are formed with a flat upper surface I 9 which provides a suitable support for a tray 20 which is used to collect slices of the food article as they fall from the cutting edge of the slicing knife l4. The right forward wall of the stampings of the base a I!) is provided with a bore 2| through which some of the control mechanism may be operated, and the right wall is provided with a slot 22 through which power may be transmitted from the interior mechanism of the slicing machine to the carriage 23 (Fig. 9) A smooth metal cover plate 24 extends over the entire right hand side of the base I and aids in preventing the dropping of food particles into the operating mechanism of the slicing machine.

The motor I! is vertically inserted within the motor housing IS, with the motor shaft 25 within a motor coupling 25. An end thrust bearing 21 carries the weight of the motor l1 and the downward thrust of the shaft 25. A flat metal plate 28, securely fastened to the stiffening bracket I8 with a plurality of screws 29 provides a support for bearing 21. The drive from the motor I! is transmitted through motor shaft 25 and coupling 26 to the shaft 30 of a worm and worm wheel gear box 3|. The power output from the gear box 3| is supplied to the main drive shaft 32 of the slicing machine. The motor mounting and drive just described provides extremely low over-all dimensions and enables the easy removal of the motor for purposes of cleaning, oiling, repair, replacement, and the like.

The carriage 23, which may be of any desired type, is preferably supported and mounted as illustratedin my co-pending application filed on August 30, 1943, as Serial No. 500,520, wherein the substance table is provided with downwardly depending supporting brackets 33 (Fig. 9) which may be demountably secured to spaced arms 34 extending from the power, drive mechanism of the slicing machine. The side of the carriage toward the slicing knife I4 is provided with a track 35 which engages a roller 36 rotatably supported within a slot on the top surface of the base It].

The thickness of the slices of the substance being cut is determined by an adjustable gauge plate 3'! which may be of any usual type. As illustrated, the gauge plate 31 is fastened to a slide 38 which is slidably supported on the upper surface of the base M1 by a pair of bearings in the form of metal strips 39. The metal strips39 embrace the slide 38 at their inner surfaces 40 and are secured to the upper surface of the base ID in any suitable manner, such as by screws 4|. The lateral displacement of the gauge plate 31 from the cutting plane of the slicing knife I4 is controlled by an operating handle 42 which is rotatably supported upon a shaft 43 carried by the gauge plate 31. As the operating handle 42 is turned, it turns with it the shaft 43 and a worm gear 44. The worm gear 44 mates with a rack 45 which is mounted with screws 45a upon the base In of the machine. As the handle 42 is turned away from the operator, lookingat Fig. 9, the rotation of the worm gear will move the entire mechanism carried by the gauge plate 31 to the left and result in the cutting of slices increasing in thickness the further the handle 42 is moved. In order to cut thinner slices, the handle 42 will be moved toward the operator, looking at Fig. 9.

The knife I is secured in any acceptable fashion to the knife spindle 4B, which is rotatably mounted in the knife supporting section |3'. The power drive for rotating the slicing knife I4 is carried from the main drive shaft 32 to a pulley 41 which is securely fastened thereto with a set screw 48. Power from the pulley 41 is transmitted through a V-belt 49 to a pulley 50 which is securely fastened to the spindle 46. The forward edge 5| of the knife supporting section I3 is adjacent the cutting edge of the knife l4, and is shaped to serve as a guide to help in the removal of the slices as they are being cut from the food article.

One of the novel features of the slicing machine herein illustrated is themanner in which power from the motor i1 recipr'ocates' the substance table 23. Power is transmitted from the main drive shaft 32 of the machine through pulley 4'! to a second drive shaft 52 secured thereto with a set screw 53. Rotation of the drive shaft 52 transmits power to the selective transmission of the slicing machine wherein the motion may be translated to linear movement to reciprocate a sleeve bearing 54. The sleeve bearing 54, which is reciprocably mounted upon a cylindrical way 55, provides a mounting for the supporting arms 34, and consequently its reciprocation results in a reciprocation of the substance table. The forward end 55 of the cylindrical way 55 is fiatt'ened and is secured, with a screw 51, to a bracket 58 upon the forward wall of the base [0 of the slicing machine. The opposite end 59 of the cylindrical way 55 is also flattened and is preferably secured with a pin 53 to a pair of brackets 6| upon the rearward wall of the base ID of the machine. The sleeve bearing 54 is prevented from rotating upon the cylindrical way 55 by a spaced bearing 52 supported upon a rectangular way 53. The rectangular way 63 is securely fastened with screws 64 to a pair of brackets 65 mounted upon the base in of the slicing machine. The bearing 62 is mounted upon a clutch housing 66 with screws 61, and the other side of the clutch housing 55 is fastened to the cylindrical bearing 55 by a connecting member 58, thereby creating a rigid connection between the bearing 52 and the sleeve bearing 54 and preventing the rotation of the latter. The sleeve bearing 54 is cushioned with a pair of springs 69 so that the possibility of jolts resulting from a change in direction in the reciprocation of the substance table will be minimized.

The selective transmission for the slicing machine consists broadly in a continuously operating driving mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 10, a reversing clutch mechanism indicated generally by the numeral H, and a selective control mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 12.

The continuously operating driving mechanism 10 is directly driven from the shaft 52. The shaft 52 rotates the worm of a worm and worm wheel gearbox 13. The casing of the gearbox is fastened with screws 14 to a plate 15 mounted with screws 76 upon the base I0 of the machine. Power from the gearbox 13 is transmitted to a shaft 11 thereby rotating a pulley l8 fastened thereto with a pin 19. A V-belt 80 is carried by the driving pulley 18 and an idler pulley 8|. The idler pulley 8| is mounted for free rotation upon a shaft 82 which is carried by an opening 83 in the bottom of the base In of the slicing machine. Opening 83 is formed in the shape of a slot so that the tension on the belt 80 may be adjusted. A nut 84, spaced from the lower surface of the base It by means of a washer 85, is screwed upon a threaded lower part of the shaft 82 and maintains it in proper adjusted position. A thrust bearing 85, located between the bottom of the pulley 8| and the top of the base H] of the slicing machine, maintains the pulley 8| in proper alinement with the pulley 18.

5 and forms a support for the clutch mechanism II. A clutch block 81 is mounted within the trough of the clutch housing 66 in such a manner that it may reciprocate to the right or to the left, viewing Fig. 9. The sides 88, 89 of the clutch block 81 adjacent tothe V-shaped belt 80 are shaped to conform to the profile of the V-belt. As the clutch block is moved to the right, viewing in Fig. 9, the belt 80 is clamped between the side 88 of the clutch block and the inner surface 90 of the trough of the clutch housing 66, and the movement of the belt carries with it the clutch mechanism II and moves the carriage 23 in one direction. When the clutch block 81 is moved to the left, viewing in Fig. 9, the belt 80 is clamped between the side 69 of the clutch block and the inner surface SI of the trough of the clutch housing 66, and movement of the belt will move the clutch mechanism II, and with it the carriage 23, in the opposite direction. The clutch block 81 is moved back and forth from one position to the other by a crank 92 which is fulcrumed upon a pin 93 extending upwardly from the clutch housing 66. An actuating pin 94 extends downwardly from the crank 92 through a slot 95 in the housing 66 and is inserted in a hole 96 in the clutch block 81. As the crank 92 is moved in a clockwise direction, looking at Fig. 5, the clutch block 87 is moved downwardly, and when it is moved in a counter-clockwise direction the clutch block 81 is moved upwardly. The crank 92 is automatically moved to and fro by an overlying cam actuated mechanism mounted upon a cam follower 91. The cam follower 91 is also fulcrumed upon pin 93 and is provided with two cam rollers 96 and 99 mounted upon pins I and IOI, respectively. An actuating pin I02 is securely fastened to the crank 92 and extends upwardly through a slot I03 in the cam follower 91. A spring I04 is secured between a collar I05 upon the actuating pin I02 and a collar I06 upon the pin I00, and tends to urge the pins I00 and I02 toward each other. Looking at Fig. 5, movement of the cam follower 91 in a clockwise direction will move the crank 92 in a counter-clockwise direction as soon as the center line of the spring I04 has crossed the pin 93, and a subsequent movement of the cam follower 91 in a counterclockwise direction will reverse the procedure. The cam follower 97 is moved in successive clockwise and counter-clockwise directions through the engagement of the cam rollers 93 and 99 with cam surfaces I07 and I08, respectively. Cam surfaces I01 and I 08 are quarter circular in shape and are fashioned on the inner surfaces of two cam plates I09 and H0, respectively. Cam plate I09 is securely fastened to the base I0 of the slicing machine with two screws III. In order to vary the length of the stroke of the substance table, the cam I I0 is adjustably mounted so that it may be moved toward and away from the cam I09. When the two cams I09 and H0 are close together, the cam follower 91 will be moved clockwise and counter-clockwise in short movements of rapid succession, whereas when they are spaced far apart, then the distance between reciprocations will be increased. To permit adjustment, the cam H0 is mounted with screws II2 to a bracket I I3 preferably welded to a sleeve bearing I I4. A threaded shaft I I5, upon which the sleeve bearing H4 is mounted, is supported at one end by a bearing II6 mounted in the bore 2| in front of the base I6. The other end of shaft I I5 is journaled in a bearing III mounted within a bracket II8 which is secured with screws II9 to the under surface of th tOpof the base I0. A

bracket I20 prevents rotative movement of the sleeve hearing I I4 and the cam II 0. Its upper end is preferably welded to the forward end of the sleeve bearing H4, and its lower end is journaled upon the cylindrical way 56. A knob I2I, which is secured with a pin I22 to a forward reduced portion of the threaded rod H5, controls the position of the adjustable cam IIO. Its rotation is transmitted to a nut I23 which is rigidly secured within the rearward end of the bore of the sleeve bearing I I 4 and mates with the threads on the threaded shaft I I5. Rotation of the knob I2I in one direction will move the cam IIO toward the cam I09, and rotation of the knob I2I in the other direction will move the cam I I0 away from the cam I09.

Through the use of the mechanism just described, the application of power to the drive shaft 52 results in a continuous reciprocation of the substance table 23, and the length of stroke may be adjusted through the manipulation of the operating knob I2I.

Selective control mechanism ?2 is provided to engage or disengage the reversing ciutch mechanism II from the V-belt 30. A hand operated lever I24 is pivotally mounted with a cap screw I25 to a stud I26 which is fastened to the underside of the connecting member 69. The hand lever I 24 extends outwardly from the operating mechanism of the machine through the slot 22 in the base I0 and is provided with a hand knob I27 secured with a screw I23 and a nut I29 to an L-shaped outer extremity of the lever I212. The forward edge of the hand lever I24 is provided with a catch slot I 36, which is adapted to catch actuating pin 94 in its mid position when the hand lever I24 is moved to the solid line position shown in Fig. 8. When actuating pin 94 is held in mid position, then clutch block 8? is kept out of contact with the belt and the carriage 23 may be manually reciprocated free from any connection to the mechanical drive. When the hand lever I24 is shifted to the solid line position shown in Fig. 7, then the catch slot i33 is moved out of contact with the pin 9d and the clutch block 8? will again assume operative contact with the belt 80. A pin 53E extends downwardly from the hand controlled lever I24, and a pin I32 extends downwardly from the sleeve hearing 54 through a slot I33 in the hand lever I24. A spring I34 is fastened to the ends of the pins I3I and I32 to urge them towards each other and to tend to maintain the hand control lever E24 in either of its extrem positions.

The hand lever I24 is also adapted to assume a mid position shown in dotted lines in Figs? and 8. When the hand lever is moved from the neutral position shown in solid lines in Fig. 8 toward the central position shown in dotted lines, clutch block 8? will be released to begin the mechanical drive of the carriage. However, if the over-centering spring I35 has not been moved past its mid point, the hand lever i24 will be held in cocked position with its front surface I35 pressing against the pin 94. Upon the reversal of the clutch block 8'! at the end of the stroke, the pin 94 will jump the catch slot E36, because of the shape of the surfaces I35 and 536 on opposite sides of the slot I30. The hand lever 524 will be urged clockwise by the spring I34, so that the surface I36 will rest against the actuating pin 94. Upon the subsequent reversal of the clutch block 81, pin 9 will ride inwardly along the surface I36 and strike the wall I31 7 ot the: catch slot I31 and will automatically be received and retained, therein, in order to dis.- connect the mechanical drive. Thus, when the operator desires to; out just one more slice: of food: article, a partial manipulation of the; manual control lever I24 efiects. the cutting of: only one slice. and then stops the substance table travel.

The slicing machine transmission operates as. follows: For manualoperati'onof the carriage,assuming that the motor 1'! running, the lever [24 is moved to the forward position indicated in solid lines in Fig. 8'. With the operating lever in this position, the clutch block 81' of the reversing. clutch mechanism is held against reciprocation in its central or neutral position and the carriage may be reciprocated fully by hand. One of the advantages inherent in the disclosed mechanism for disconnecting the carriage from its power drive is that. the frictional losses intro.- duced are no higher than in a machine. utilizing a fully manually reciprocated carriage.

For mechanical operation of the carriage, assuming that the motor IT is running, the lever 124 is moved to its rearward position indicated in solid lines in Fig. '7. With the operating lever in this position, the clutch block 81 of the reversing clutch mechanism is permitted to reciprocate freely and to grasp opposite sides or reaches of the continuously rotating belt drive. As the clutch block grasps one reach of the belt and travels in the same direction as the reach does, it carries with it the carriage. Reversal of the direction of movement is produced when the cam rollers 98 and 99 roll against the cam surfaces on their respective cam plates Hi9 and H0.

The length of the stroke of the carriage is easily adjusted through the manipulation of the control knob I24 on the front of the machine. When the knob is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction the distance between the cam plates is reduced and the length of each stroke of the carriage is likewise reduced. These variations in stroke of the carriage enable the cutting of a larger number of slices of small diameter substances in a given length of time. For the larger diameter substances the knob MI is rotated in a clockwise direction and the distance between the cam plates and the length of stroke of the carriage is thereby increased.

Frequently in the operation of a slicing machine it is desired to out only a given weight of the substance being sliced. As the slicing progresses, the slices are weighed and sometimes are found to be very close to the desired weight. In that event, it may be desirable to out only one more slice of the substance. This procedure may be followed very conveniently with the disclosed mechanism by moving the control lever I2 to its central position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8. With the operating lever in this position, the clutch block 81 of the reversing clutch mechanism is permitted to reciprocate freely for one complete reciprocation of the carriage. Thereafter it is held against reciprocation by the automatic movement of the control lever I24 to its forward position indicated by solid lines in Fig. 8 and the mechanical table drive is automatically disconnected.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as 8 fairly fall Within the scope of the following; claims.

The, invention i hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a slicing machine having a, carriage, and a. belt drive, and reversing clutch transmission for said carriage, a, manually operable lever carried by said clutch transmission and selectively positionable to latch said clutch transmission in a. neutral inactive position disconnected from said belt drive, and in position to release said clutch transmission for driving cooperation with said belt. drive, and over centering spring, means for yieldingly holding said lever in said positions, and means including said spring means operating on the lever to hold said lever in a manually set intermediate position and to move said clutch transmission to said central. inactive position after one strokeonly of the carriage. I

2. In a slicing machine having a carriage and a belt drive, and reversing clutch transmission for said carriage, the, combination, with said clutch. transmission, of a control lever disposable in a neutral position to latch the clutch transmission in idle position disconnected from said belt drive, said lever being disposable in a retracted position releasing the clutch transmission. for driving cooperation with said belt drive, said lever being shiftable from the neutral position to. an intermediate cocked position releasing the. clutch for operation during only one reciprocation of the carriage, and yielding means operating on the control lever to urge the same from the cocked position to the neutral latching position after the carriage has made one complete reciprocation with the lever in cocked position.

3. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife drivingly connected with said motor, a carriage supported for reciprocation with respect to said knife, a transmission driven by said motor and comprising an endless belt providing a pair of parallel belt stretches, clutch means connected with said carriage and movable therewith along said belt stretches, said clutch means comprising a frame including portions overlying the outwardly facing surfaces of said belt stretches, and a clutch member slidably mounted on said frame between said belt stretches and movable, in one direction on the frame, into operating position to grip one belt stretch against one of said overlying frame portions and, in another direction, into operating position to grip the other belt stretch against the other overlying frame portion. and actuating means operable to move said clutch element upon the frame from one operating position to the other, said actuating means compris-v ing a rockable member on said frame and connected with said clutch member, over centering spring means connected with the rockable member and earns for rocking the member at the reciprocating limits of carriage movement.

4. A slicing machine comprising a motor, a slicing knife drivingly connected with said motor, a carriage supported for reciprocation with respect to said knife, a transmission driven by said motor and comprising an endless belt proriding a pair of parallel belt stretches, clutch means connected with said carriage and movable therewithalong said belt stretches, said clutch means comprising a frame including portions overlying the outwardly facing surfaces of said belt stretches, and a clutch member slidably mounted on said frame betweensaid belt stretches and movable, in one direction on the frame, into operating position to grip one belt stretch against one of said overlying frame portions and, in the other direction, into operating position to grip the other belt stretch against the other overlying frame portion, actuating means operable at the reciprocating limits of carriage movement to move said clutch element upon said frame from one operating position to the other, and manually operable latch means in position for engagement with the clutch means for holding said clutch member in a neutral position disconnecting the carriage from said belt stretches.

5. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, a carriage mounted for reciprocation with respect to the knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, clutch means connected with said carriage, said clutch means embodyin a frame, portions of which overlie the outer faces of the belt runs, said clutch means also embodying a member co-operating with said portions of the frame for gripping opposite runs of said belt, actuating means operable at the reciprocating limits of the carriage movement, to move the clutch member from one operating position to the other, manually operable latch means for holding said clutch member in a neutral position disconnecting the carriage from said belt runs, said latching means embodying a lever with over centering spring serving to hold the lever selectively in latching and in releasing position, said lever having a latching notch to receive a latching member on the clutch member to hold the same in neutral position, said lever having a guiding surface on one side of the notch for guiding the latching member into the notch, and on the other side of the notch having a surface designed to allow the member to override the notch.

6. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, a reciprocable carriage, clutch mechanism embodying a shiftable member adapted to engage and disengage alternately the runs of the belt for connecting and disconnecting said carriage with and from the respective runs of the belt, a crank member for actuating said shiftable member, an actuator member separate from said crank member, means whereby said actuator member will operate said crank member when the former reaches a predetermined position with respect to the latter, means at the ends of the reciprocating movements of the carriage for shifting said actuator member, and means in position for engagement with the clutch means adapted to be set at will for rendering said crank member inoperable by the said actuator member.

7. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, a reciprocable carriage, clutch mechanism embodying a shiftable member adapted to engage and disengage alternately the runs of the belt for connecting and disconnecting said carriage with and from the respective runs of the belt, a crank member for actuating said shiftable member, an actuator member separate from said crank member, an over-centering spring connection between said crank member and said actuator member, whereb said actuator member will operate said crank member when the former reaches a predetermined position with respect to the latter, means at the ends of the reciprocating movements of the carriage for shifting said actuator member, and a manually-set member having means for holding said shiftable member in said position against movement by the crank member and having additional means connected therewith for limiting the movement of the shiftabl member by the crank member.

8. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, a reciprocable carriage, clutch mechanism embodying a shiftable member adapted to engage and disengage alternately the runs of the belt for connecting and disconnecting said carriage with and from the respective runs of the belt, a crank member for actuating said shiftable member, an actuator member separate from said crank member, means whereby said actuator member will operate said crank member when the former reaches a predetermined position with'respect to the latter, means at the ends of the reciprocating movements of the carriage for shifting said actuator member, and a lever having a latching notch to receive a latching element connected with said clutch mechanism to maintain the clutch in neutral position, said lever having a guiding surface on one side of the notch for guiding the latching element into the notch, and on the other side of the notch having a surface operating to allow the latching element to override the notch.

9. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, a reciprocable carriage, clutch mechanism embodying a shiftable member adapted to engage and disengage alternately the runs of the belt for connecting and disconnecting said carriage with and from the respective runs of the belt, a crank member for actuating said shiftable member, an actuator member separate from said crank member, means whereby said actuator member will operate said crank member when the former reaches a predetermined position with respect to the latter, means at the ends of the reciprocating movements of the carriage for shifting said actuator member, and a control lever adapted to be i set in a neutral position to latch the clutch mechanism in inoperative position, said lever being po-. sitionable to render the clutch mechanism active, for driving connection with said belt, and also shiftable to an intermediate position to render the clutch mechanism active for only one reciprocation of the carriage.

10. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, a reciprocable carriage, clutch mechanism embodying a shiftable member adapted to engage and disengage alternately the runs of the belt for connecting and disconnecting said carriage with and from the respective runs of the belt, a crank member for actuating said shiftable member, an actuator member separate from said crank member, means whereby said actuator member will operate said crank member when the former reaches a predetermined position with respect to the latter, means at the ends of the reciprocating movements of the carriage for shifting said actuator member, a control lever adapted to be set in a neutral position to latch the clutch mechanism in inoperative position, said lever being positionable to render the clutch mechanism active, for driving connection with said belt, and also shiftable to an intermediate position to render the clutch mechanism active for only one reciprocation of the carriage, and yielding means operating upon said control lever to urge the same from the said intermediate position to the neutral latching position after the carriage has made one complete reciprocation with the said lever in the said intermediate position,

11. A slicing machine embodying a rotatable knife, an endless belt adapted to be continuously driven, a reciprocable carriage, clutch mechanism embodying .a shiitable member adapted to eng ge and disengage :alternately the runs of the belt for connecting and disconnecting said. carriage with andfrom the respective runs of the belt, a crank .member for actuating said shi-ftable member, an actuator member separate from said crank member, means whereby said actuator member will operate said crank member when the former reaches a predetermined position with respect to the latter, means at the endsof the reciprocating movements of the carriage for shifting said actuator member, and means'adapted to be set at will ior rendering said crank member inoperable by the said actuator member, the second .recite-d means inposition for engagement with the clutch means embodying adjustable shifter members whereby the extent of reciprocating movements of said carriage maybe varied at will.

JOSEPH FOLK.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The (following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES 'PZ-X'I ENTS 

